Wire marking apparatus



July 20, 1965 H. WILLIAMS ,1

WIRE MARKING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 9, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR.

Harry J). Williams BY AHM'MU y 1965. H. D. WILLIAMS wm MARKING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 9, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N i Umfiflv M/ N RN pr \m v A w RN \QQ. MN N r n n u u 4, w v gm. m. mm. m mw w a m (K x w 9 \N \N m Harr BY United States Patent 3,195,499 WERE MARKING APPARATUS Harry ll). Williams, Eioomingten, Ind, assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 9, N60, Ser. No. 74,842 Claims. (Cl. 118-4) This invention relates to Wire marking apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for marking insulated wire with various colors to provide identifying markings there- The primary object of this invention is to provide improved wire marking apparatus for applying one or more markings either longitudinally or spirally along a wire.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved wire marking apparatus which can uniformly stripe a moving wire.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved wire marking apparatus which is readily adaptableto stripe wires with inks of various colors.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved wire marking apparatus which can both uniformly color coat and stripe a moving wire.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a novel wire marking applicator which includes novel means for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved wire marking apparatus as aforesaid which is simple and economical to manufacture, which is easy to maintain and operate, and which is efficient in use.

According to the invention, a wire striping apparatus is provided which includes a liquid container which can be filled with liquid ink for marking wire. A marking applicator extends into the container and is positioned for contact with a wire to be marked. Means, such as a valve, are provided to control the flow of liquid through the applicator. The container and applicator are arranged to'be rotatable about the wire to be marked. In order to operate the device, a wire to be marked is positioned in cont-act with the marking applicator and the applicators valve is opened so that the marking liquid will flow therethrough. The wire is then moved past the applicator. If it is desired to stripe the wire spirally or helically, the container and applicator are rotated around the Wire while the wire is being moved past the applicator in engagement therewith. If it is desired to longitudinally stripe the wire, the container and applicator are held stationary. The marking placed on the wire may conform to a prescribed code, if desired, to thereby indicate the particular use for which the wire is intended.

If it is desired to change the color of the marking applied on the wire, the liquid container is removed from the surface of the rotatable member and another, similar liquid container which contains ink of a different color is inserted in its place.

Another feature of the invention is a novel marking applicator for striping a wire. The applicator contains valve means which includes a first means for biasing the valve closed when the applicator is stationary and a second means for biasing the valve open as long as the applicator is rotated. Separate means may be provided for biasing the valve open when it is desired to longitudinally stripe a wire and the applicator is not rotated.

The novel features of this invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be understood more fully from the following description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one form of wire marking apparatus according to the present invention including the wire-feeding means,

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged, front, elevational view of the liquid container and attached marking applicator of the marking apparatus of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the liquid container and attached marking applicator as seen from the right of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified form of applicator which may be used in marking apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring, now, more particularly to the drawings, a wire marking apparatus llll is illustrated which includes a wire striping apparatus 12, a motor 14 for rotating the striping apparatus 12, a wire coating device 16 (hereinafter described more particularly), and a pair of reels 18 on each of which is wound an insulation covered wire 19 (two such reels and wires being shown by way of illustr-ation).

The striping apparatus 12, shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, includes a liquid container 20, a marking applicator 22 and rotating means 24 illustrated in FIG. 1. The liquid container 29, which can be constructed of stainless steel, aluminum or similar material, is a tank which has an opening 23 in its top surface through which liquid coloring ink can be inserted. Also projecting from the top surface is an air vent 21. The opening 23 is normally sealed by a nut 25 to prevent the ink from evaporating from the container when the applicator is not in use. The front surface 26 of the container 20 has an elongated groove 28 therein which is semicircular in a transverse direction and which is aligned with an outer opening in the marking applicator 22. A wire 19 is positioned in the groove 2.8 when it is moved past the marking applicator 22 for striping. The surface 26 also is formed with a large recess 36 near the bottom of the container 2h. The surface of the recess 30 which is parallel to the surface 26 carries a threaded nipple 31 on which the marking applicator 22 can be secured by a nut 33.

The applicator 22 can be more particularly described as a lapped seat needle valve. The details of the applicator 2 2 are illustrated in MG. 3. The body of the applicator 22 comprises an elongated member 34 having a bore 36 which extends from an outer opening 37 to the opposite end 38 of the applicator 22 position-ed within the container M An elongated valve member 40 is contained within the bore 36 and prevents the how of liquid through the applicator 22 when the valve member 40 is positioned in its outer position, as shown in FIG. 3. In order to insure a liquid-tight seal, a gasket 41 is placed between the applicator 22 and the container Zil. Biasing means, such as a coil spring 42, maintains the valve member 4h in its outer, closed, position when the apparatus 12 is stationary. Attached to the opposite end 38 of the valve member ill is a counterweight 45. When the applicator 22 is rotated in a circular path, the counterweight 45, acting under the influence of centrifugal force, will bias the valve member 4% to a second, open position, against the action of the spring 42. The liquid in the container can then flow out through the bore 36, and through a groove 39 in the valve member 40 to the outer opening 37, there to be applied to a wire 19 which is in contact with the applicator at the opening 37. The valve member 40 may also be biased open when the applicator Z2 is stationary by any suitable mechanical means, such as shown in FIG. 4. Here, the member 34 is formed with a bayonet slot 35 through which a pin 44 carried by the valve member 4i extends. T 0 hold the valve member 49 open, it is merely necessary to push the pin 44 back into the rear, offset portion 35a of the slot 35 against the force of the spring.

Each container 29 and its attached marking applicator I goingwires with a utilization device.

with a gear 48 around its outer periphery. The condevices, there will be no inte'rmixing of colors and the tainer 20 is attached to one side of the center of the f member 24 and a counterweight 46 to the opposite side of center in order to balance the member 24 for easier rotation. 51 which is aligned with the outer opening 37 of the associated applicator 22 so that a wire extending through the opening 51 will contact the outer opening 37 in the applicator 22.

The marking apparatus 12 is rotated by the motor 14 which has a gear 53 connected to its shaft, the gear 53 Each member 24 is formedwith an opening wire 19 will beready for use almost instantaneously after leaving the Wiremarking apparatus 10. If the Wire is to be longitudinally spirally striped but not coated, the coating device 16 is turned to its inactive or restposition so that the wicks 69 thereof are out of contact with the wires '19 and the wire is moved past the striping appaartus '12. If the wire is to be coated and not striped,

being meshed with the gear 48 on one of the circular members 24. The motor 14 can be any standard A.C.

motor. I

When'the striping apparatus 12 is to mark a pair of wires simultaneously, as illustrated'in FIG. 1, the' gears 48 of both members 24 are interconnected so that both members 24 can be driven by a single motor 14.

Located next to the counterweight 46 and attached to the member 24, as shown in FIG. 1, is a spring loaded wire guide 54 which maintains the wire 19 in contact with the outer opening 37 of the applicator 22. The guides 54 are adjustable sothat the marking apparatus 10 can be adjusted to accommodate wires of ditferent sizes.

The coating device 16 shown in FIG. 1 for applying a uniform color coating to an insulated wire'19 is described in detail in the commonly owned, copending ap:

plication, Serial No. 52,679, filed August 29, 1960 by Harry D. 'Williams' and entitled Wire Coating Apparatus,

. now Patent No. 3,034,477, granted May 15,'1962. Generally, the device 16 comprises a rotatable supporting member 56 on which is positioned a marking liquid holding pct 57 which is sealed by a cover 59. Exteuding'into the container and above the cover 59 are two pairs of wicks 69. Only the near wick of each pair can be seen in FIG. 1, the remote wickbeing disposed directly and slightly behind the near wick in each case, as illustrated.

One Wire 19 to be color coated is drawn between one pair of wicks with each wick 69 coloring one half of the wire; A second wire 19 can be color coated bythe other pair of wicks 69. The device 16 is turned olf by simply rotating the device from a first position to a second position I tion-ed within saidtubular member and including a valve the coating apparatus 16 is moved to its active position,

, but the applicator 12 is held stationary and, the valve member is held closed by the'spring 42.

In order to change the color of the coating or striping ink, either the liquid containers 20 or the liquid holding pct 57 are freed from the ir supportingmembers and replaced by similar containers filled with'different colored inks.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved wire coating apparatus. While I I have illustrated and described one particular form of such apparatus, it will, no doubt, be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the particular apparatus disclosed, all within the spirit of the present invention; Hence, I desire that the foregoing shall be taken merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is V 1. A wire striping apparatus comprising a container for a marking liquid, a marking applicator extending into said container, said applicator comprising-a tubular member through which said liquid can flow, valve means posimember' movable axially along said tubular member to and'from open and closed positions, first means for biasing said valve member into said closed position when said container is stationary, means for rotating said container, second means responsive to rotation of said container for biasing said valve member into said open position when said container is rotating, and means independent of'said first and second means for selectively locking said valvemeans in either an open or a closed position when said container is stationary.

2. A wire'marking apparatus comprising a container for a marking liquid, a marking applicator extending into in which the wicks become disengaged from the wires 19.

The reels 18 which hold the insulation covered wire 19.

are mounted on a frame 63 so that'a pair of wires 19 to be marked can be drawn over pulleys 65 to the wire coating devi'ce- 16. Located between the wire coating device 16 and the wire marking apparatus 12 is a second pair of pulleys 66. A third pair of pulleys 67 is positioned above the wire marking apparatus 10 for aligning the out In explaining the operation of the said container, said applicator comprising a tubular memher through which said' liquid can flow, valve. means positioned within said tubular member and including a valve member movable axially along said tubular memher to and from open and closed positions, means biasing l paratus 10, it will be assumed that two wires are to be coated and marked simultaneously, but it will be evident that only one wire could be marked, it so desired. To operate the apparatus 7 10, a wire from each of thereels 18 is wound over vertically aligned pulleys 65, between a pair of wicks ,69, around a pulley'66, through an opening 51 in the member 24, between the applicator'22 and its associated wire guide 54 so as to contact the outer opening'37 of the applicator 22, through the groove 28, and over the pulley 67 a to some type of utilization device. In order to color coat and also form a spiral stripe on the wire, the coating device 16 is turned to its operating or active position so that the pairs of wicks 69 contact the wires 19. The

motor 14 is turned on, thereby starting the striping apparatus 12 rotating around the wires 19. Simultaneously, the utilization device starts to .pull thewires from the reels 18 through the marking apparatus 12. If it said valve 'member into said closed position when said container is stationary, means for rotating said container, and means coupled to said valve member responsive to rotation of said container for biasing said valve member into said *open position whensaid container is rotating. 3. A'liquid marking applicator for a wire movable along a path, said applicator comprising an elongated member having a passage therethrough terminating in an outlet at a point along said path such that said outlet is constantly in contact withsaid wire, a needle valve positioned within said passage, aresilient member positioned around said needle valve for normally biasing said needle a valve closed against said outlet at one end of saidneedle valve, and a counterweight attached to the opposite end of said needle valve for biasing said needle valveopen relative to said outlet'when said'applicator is rotated in a circular path around said first mentioned path above a predetermined speed.

4. In apparatus for applying a stripe to a moving Wire,

7 1 the'combination ofa rotatable container for a marking is desired to merely color coat and only longitudinally stripe the wire 19, the coating device 16 is turned to its active position, but the striping apparatus .12 is held stationary while the wire 19 is movedpast the applicator 22, the pin 44 being moved into the bayonet slot portion 35a.

liquid, a marking applicator mounted on said container and rotatable therewith, said applicator having apassage therein communicating withtthe interior of said container and adapted to conduct marking fluid therethrough from saidcontainer interior to the exterior of said container forv application of said liquid to said wire, and centrifu'gally operable means within said passage extending into said container and responsive to rotation of said container for controlling the flow of said marking liquid therethrough.

5. A wire striping apparatus for applying a stripe to a moving Wire, said apparatus comprising a container for a marking liquid, said container having a surface adjacent the path of travel of said wire, a marking applicator carried by said container in communication with the interior thereof, means carried by said applicator for controlling the flow of liquid through said applicator from said container, and a guide groove on said surface of said container in alignment with said applicator for guiding movement of said Wire past apparatus.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/88 Nunn. 4/35 Lowe et a1.

6 2,062,900 12/36 Nagy 118--3 2,186,788 1/40 Olson. 2,366,944 1/45 Veit 118-4l2 X 2,474,088 6/49 Brown. 2,537,884 1/51 Forsberg 118221 2,562,500 7/51 Lunt ct a1. 2,610,607 9/52 Isenberg 118412 2,749,880 6/56 Richardson et al. 118-411 2,756,718 7/56 Stone et a1. 2,800,871 7/57 Hoag 118227 X 2,881,962 4/59 Hausen 222-510 3,034,477 5/62 Williams 11743 X FOREIGN PATENTS 430,726 6/ 35 Great Britain.

RICHARD D. NEVIUS, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH B. SPENCER, Examiner. 

1. A WIRE STRIPPING APPARATUS COMPRISING A CONTAINER FOR A MARKING LIQUID, A MARKING APPLICATOR EXTENDING INTO SAID CONTAINER, SAID APPLICATOR COMPRISING A TUBULAR MEMBER THROUGH WHICH SAID LIQUID CAN FLOW, VALVE MEANS POSITIONED WITHIN SAID TUBULRAR MEMBER AND INCLUDING A VALVE MEMBER MOVABLE AXIALLY ALONG SAID TUBULAR MEMBER TO AND FROM OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, FIRST MEANS FOR BIASING SAID VALVE MEMBER INTO SAID CLOSED POSITION WHEN SAID CONTAINER IS STATIONARY, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CONTAINER, SECOND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO ROTATION OF SAID CONTAINER FOR BIASING SAID VALVE MEMBER INTO SAID OPEN POSITION WHEN SAID CONTAINER IS ROTATING, AND MEANS INDE- 